Assistant Professor in Spiritualities and Community Engagement

Location

Waterloo, ON | Canada

Job description

Assistant Professor in Spiritualities and Community Engagement

Position Rank:Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track

Start Date:                            August 1, 2024

Reporting:                             Principal-Dean of Martin Luther University College

Position Objective: The Assistant Professor in Spiritualities and Community Engagement will work collaboratively with other faculty and staff at Luther, under the direction of the Principal-Dean, to teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses and be the Program Director of the MA program in Spiritualities and Community Engagement.

ABOUT LUTHER

Martin Luther University College (formerly Waterloo Lutheran Seminary) is in Waterloo, Ontario and federated with Wilfrid Laurier University. As a federated college, Luther has its own board of governors which oversees the work of the institution. Luther offers academic programming at the undergraduate, graduate, and graduate diploma levels. The mission of Luther is:

• Martin Luther University College provides education for a life of meaning and service.

This mission is achieved by considering a rapidly evolving world through theological lenses.

Luther’s vision statement is:

• Martin Luther University College is a diverse spiritually and theologically informed learning community, dedicated to academic and professional excellence, that fosters justice, equity, and community engagement.

Students

Approximately 195 students are enrolled in Luther’s programs at any one time, and another 300 undergraduate students, registered at Wilfrid Laurier University, enroll in Luther courses as electives. Approximately twenty Luther students are undergraduates, while the remaining students are pursuing Master or PhD programs. Luther students come from more than thirty different faith traditions while some have no faith tradition at all.

Faculty & Staff

Luther is comprised of a dozen full-time faculty members who have earned doctoral degrees. Given the number of courses offered, many are taught by adjunct faculty who are specialists in their field.The school is supported by a team of 8 full-time staff members working in communications, student services, and administration departments.

AREA OF SPECIALIZATION
We seek an outstanding and enthusiastic scholar with demonstrated excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, and community engagement. The area of theological specialization is open; however, candidates who have an ability to teach across the theological curriculum and whose research profile and teaching experience includes one or more cognate fields (e.g. theology, philosophy, religious studies, pastoral ministry, etc.) are especially encouraged to apply. Expertise in a variety of spiritualities, religious traditions, interfaith dialogue, community engagement, decolonial theory is required. Knowledge and/or experience in spiritual care and psychotherapy is an added benefit for this position. Experience in program development and review is preferred.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITLES:

Luther’s faculty are expected to maintain an active scholarly agenda and demonstrate intellectual growth and significant achievement appropriate to their field. The successful candidate will also serve as the MA in Spiritualities and Community Engagement Program Director and will contribute to our institutional mission by serving the community through academic advising, community engagement/ outreach, participation in departmental and college-wide committees, and the development and curriculum assessment/implementation.

Teaching Responsibilities:

• TH530E: Foundations of Spiritualities 
• TH560G: Foundations of Ethical Community Engagement
• and two program electives per academic year. This teaching load includes one course relief to fulfill the administrative responsibilities for the MA in Spiritualities and Community Engagement.

The MA Program Director will:

• Oversee the MA in Spiritualities and Community Engagement, holding primary responsibility and accountability for the program within the Luther community;
• Provide academic advising for students in the MA Program, as well as advising program development, planning, and implementation;
• Ensure that practices align with the national and international standards for academic advising;
• Provide input during the employee performance appraisals of MA faculty and administrative staff;

• Actively participate on faculty governance committees and recommend program improvements as needed;
• Attend monthly Faculty Council meetings;
• Chair the monthly MA department meetings;

• Provide leadership in academic and student affairs issues;
• Collaborate with Student Services to ensure all program goals, objectives, and needs are met;
• Provide development and implementation of outreach, recruitment, admission, and retention efforts for graduate students;

• Seek and hire adjunct faculty as required;
• Work with and serve as a resource to the faculty;
• Comply with the policies and procedures of Martin Luther University College;
• Liaise with appropriate personnel at Wilfrid Laurier University as needed;
• Undertake other tasks as agreed upon with the Principal-Dean.

EDUCATION

Candidates for this tenure-track position should possess an earned doctorate in theology, philosophy, religious studies, or a related field by August 1, 2024. Those who have reached the ABD stage in their active progress toward a doctoral degree (i.e., completion of all qualifying and competency examinations) will also be considered. Preference will be given to candidates with evidence of teaching effectiveness at the undergraduate and graduate level.

TO APPLY

To apply, please submit your CV, cover letter, three letters of reference, Teaching Statement, Research Statement, DEI Statement, Course Evaluations, and writing sample by March 15, 2024. All applications must be submitted to [email protected]

In line with Wilfrid Laurier University’s hiring policies, Martin Luther University College is committed to diversity and creating a culture of inclusion by increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from qualified members of the equity-deserving groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, as per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Martin Luther University College wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. All nominations and applications shall be reviewed and considered under a set of criteria established by the Search Committee, and a short list of candidates shall be interviewed. Only those applicants selected for the short list will be contacted.

Job tags

Salary